Caulfield Racecourse witnessed another significant performance from Pride of Jenni as the nine-year-old mare returned to racing with a commanding victory in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare completed her third consecutive success in the race and recorded the 14th win of her career from 49 starts.
Pride of Jenni once again used her familiar front-running tactics to control the contest. She established her position in front and maintained her advantage through the closing stages, producing another strong performance on her return to competition.
The daughter of Pride of Dubai had been purchased for $100,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale by Tony and Lynn Ottobre of Cape Schanck Stud. Bred by Trelawney Stud and the Taylor Family Trust, she had now accumulated $12.8 million in prizemoney.
Pride of Jenni Feehan Stakes Hat-Trick Adds to Remarkable Record
The latest Pride of Jenni Feehan Stakes success extended an already notable record at Caulfield. The mare had continued to compete at a high level at nine years of age, adding another Group 2 victory to a career that had delivered 14 wins from 49 starts.
Trainer Ciaron Maher praised the mare following her latest performance and highlighted the quality of her return. He also credited the mare’s condition and preparation for allowing her to produce another high-level effort at this stage of her career.
Owner Tony Ottobre also spoke highly of Pride of Jenni and Maher’s handling of the mare. The latest victory provided another significant result for the connections behind one of Australia’s most recognisable racing mares.
Later on the Caulfield card, Regal Zeus produced another strong front-running display to win the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes.
The John McArdle-trained Zoustar gelding recorded his 12th victory from 39 starts and increased his career earnings to $1.1 million with the success.
Regal Zeus had been purchased for $150,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale by McArdle in partnership with Regal Bloodstock and Blue Grass. Edinburgh Park had offered the gelding, who had been bred by the same operation.
Jockey Jamie Mott allowed Regal Zeus to take control early before increasing the pace approaching the home turn. The gelding maintained his advantage in the straight to secure the Listed victory.
Blue Door Added Stakes Success at Rosehill
At Rosehill, Blue Door strengthened her record with a comprehensive all-the-way victory in the Group 3 Heritage Stakes.
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly had been purchased for $400,000 at the Easter Sale by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds’ Bruce Slade. Yarraman Park had offered the filly, who had been bred by Armitage Australia.
Blue Door had now recorded two wins and two second-place finishes from four starts. Her Heritage Stakes performance had also increased interest in her future campaign, with connections having discussed the possibility of targeting The Everest.
Blue Door raced in the colours associated with John Singleton and defeated Ciaron’s Star to complete an Inglis graduates quinella in the Rosehill feature.
At Toowoomba, Let’sfacethemusic recorded his first Stakes victory by winning the Listed Weetwood Handicap.
The five-year-old, trained by Corey and Kylie Geran, had been purchased by Daniel Rae for $47,500 at the Inglis Digital January Online Sale. Since that purchase, he had raced nine times for five wins and had earned $266,200 in prizemoney.
The Weetwood Handicap success represented an important addition to his record and gave the Geran stable a Listed winner at Toowoomba.
Invincible Ibis Returned with Celebration Cup Victory
At Sha Tin, Hong Kong Derby winner Invincible Ibis made a successful return to racing by winning the Group 3 Celebration Cup.
The Mark Newnham-trained five-year-old had recorded his sixth victory from 12 starts with the Sha Tin success. The result provided an important start to his latest campaign.
Bred by Adrian Goonan, Invincible Ibis had been purchased for $80,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale by Kilgravin Lodge and Waikato Bloodstock from Widden Stud.
His Celebration Cup victory had provided a significant result ahead of the Hong Kong season, with the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin in December identified as a likely campaign objective.
Across Caulfield, Rosehill, Toowoomba and Sha Tin, the weekend had produced several notable Stakes results. The Pride of Jenni Feehan Stakes victory had headlined the Caulfield meeting, while Regal Zeus, Blue Door, Let’sfacethemusic and Invincible Ibis had also added important wins to their records.
The Pride of Jenni Feehan Stakes success saw the nine-year-old mare complete a third consecutive victory in the Group 2 contest at Caulfield Racecourse and take her career tally to 14 wins from 49 starts.
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